Algeria hostage crisis: PM warns nation to prepare for ‘bad news’

The In Amenas facility was attacked on Wednesday morning (Picture: AP)

Prime minister David Cameron warned the nation to prepare for ‘bad news’ after Algerian forces launched an operation to free foreign workers in one of the largest international hostage crises in decades.

‘It is a very dangerous, a very uncertain, a very fluid situation and I think we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility of bad news ahead.’

A British national is reportedly among seven surviving captives at a remote gas facility in Algeria, as confusion surrounds the ongoing crisis .

The Reuters news agency quoted a local source as saying six foreign hostages and eight of their captors had been killed after a vehicle being used by the Islamists at the In Amenas plant was fired upon by Algerian troops.

Warning: David Cameron (Picture: Reuters)

Earlier reports from Mauritania’s ANI news agency, which has been in constant contact with the gunmen, said 35 hostages and 15 militants, including their leader Abou el-Baraa, died when Algerian army helicopters attacked the facility, 800 miles (1,300km) south-east of Algiers and 37 miles (60km) from the Libyan border.

ANI later appeared to clarify the claim from Reuters’s local source that seven hostages were still alive, saying three Belgians, two Americans, one Japanese citizen and one British national were being held.

Ireland’s department of foreign affairs confirmed Stephen McFaul, 36, from west Belfast, had escaped and been in contact with his family.

The Irish government said the married man was ‘safe and well’.

UK foreign secretary William Hague (Picture: EPA)

Mr Cameron described the situation in Algeria as ‘very grave and serious’, his official spokesman said.

The spokesman confirmed the prime minister was not given prior notice of the military operation being launched.

An Algerian security source told Reuters 25 foreign hostages had already escaped, as well as scores of Algerian workers.

The In Amenas plant is operated by BP and Statoil, and the UK and Norwegian governments both confirmed a military operation was underway at the facility.

ANI reported after the hostage crisis first began yesterday morning that the gunmen had attacked the plant in revenge for Algeria granting the French military permission to use its airspace as it launched operations against al-Qaeda-linked rebels in Mali.

‘Whatever excuse is being used by terrorists and murderers, there is no excuse. This is the cold-blooded murder of people going about their business,’ UK foreign secretary William Hague commented.

Algeria has said Islamist commander Mokhtar Belmokhtar is behind the attack (Picture: Reuters/File)

Mr Hague said the situation was ‘extremely dangerous’ and he could not divulge details ‘lightly’.

‘A number of people are held hostage. This does include a number of British nationals. This is therefore an extremely dangerous situation,’ he continued.

‘We are in close touch with the Algerian government, the Algerian military have deployed to the area and the prime minister has spoken to the prime minister of Algeria.

‘We are liaising very closely with all levels of the Algerian government.’

Downing Street said Mr Cameron would hold another meeting of the government’s emergency Cobra committee this afternoon on the ‘ongoing’ situation.